The Narrative of William W. Brown, a Fugitive Slave eBook

When I learned the fact of my having been hired to
a negro speculator, or a “soul-driver”
as they are generally called among slaves, no one can
tell my emotions. Mr. Walker had offered a high
price for me, as I afterwards learned, but I suppose
my master was restrained from selling me by the fact
that I was a near relative of his. On entering
the service of Mr. Walker, I found that my opportunity
of getting to a land of liberty was gone, at least
for the time being. He had a gang of slaves in
readiness to start for New Orleans, and in a few days
we were on our journey. I am at a loss for language
to express my feelings on that occasion. Although
my master had told me that he had not sold me, and
Mr. Walker had told me that he had not purchased me,
I did not believe them; and not until I had been to
New Orleans, and was on my return, did I believe that
I was not sold.

There was on the boat a large room on the lower deck,
in which the slaves were kept, men and women, promiscuously—­all
chained two and two, and a strict watch kept that
they did not get loose; for cases have occurred in
which slaves have got off their chains, and made their
escape at landing-places, while the boats were taking
in wood;—­and with all our care, we lost
one woman who had been taken from her husband and
children, and having no desire to live without them,
in the agony of her soul jumped overboard, and drowned
herself. She was not chained.

It was almost impossible to keep that part of the
boat clean.

On landing at Natchez, the slaves were all carried
to the slave-pen, and there kept one week, during
which time, several of them were sold. Mr. Walker
fed his slaves well. We took on board, at St.
Louis, several hundred pounds of bacon (smoked meat)
and corn-meal, and his slaves were better fed than
slaves generally were in Natchez, so far as my observation
extended.

At the end of a week, we left for New Orleans, the
place of our final destination, which we reached in
two days. Here the slaves were placed in a negro-pen,
where those who wished to purchase could call and
examine them. The negro-pen is a small yard, surrounded
by buildings, from fifteen to twenty feet wide, with
the exception of a large gate with iron bars.
The slaves are kept in the buildings during the night,
and turned out into the yard during the day. After
the best of the stock was sold at private sale at
the pen, the balance were taken to the Exchange Coffee
House Auction Rooms, kept by Isaac L. McCoy, and sold
at public auction. After the sale of this lot
of slaves, we left New Orleans for St. Louis.

CHAPTER VI.

On our arrival at St. Louis, I went to Dr. Young,
and told him that I did not wish to live with Mr.
Walker any longer. I was heart-sick at seeing
my fellow-creatures bought and sold. But the Dr.
had hired me for the year, and stay I must. Mr.
Walker again commenced purchasing another gang of
slaves. He bought a man of Colonel John O’Fallon,
who resided in the suburbs of the city. This
man had a wife and three children. As soon as
the purchase was made, he was put in jail for safe
keeping, until we should be ready to start for New
Orleans. His wife visited him while there, several
times, and several times when she went for that purpose
was refused admittance.